A recent transparency report by the Appeals Centre Europe (ACE) indicates that major social media platforms are significantly failing to enforce their own policies against hate speech. ACE, an independent EU body, reviewed over 24,000 user disputes and found that in 70% of hate speech cases, platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube incorrectly allowed harmful content to remain online. TikTok performed particularly poorly, with ACE overturning its decisions in 83% of cases.
The types of hate speech cited include racist comments, antisemitic videos, and content targeting religious minorities, Roma people, migrants, and LGBTQI+ communities. The report also noted AI-generated misinformation being left on platforms. Users, particularly from France, Belgium, and Italy, are actively challenging these decisions, indicating a growing demand for accountability.
ACE CEO Thomas Hughes stressed that these failures have real-world consequences, highlighting the need for improved moderation systems and stricter enforcement of online safety regulations to protect users from harmful content.
